Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Jan 6 – 7, 2019Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Storm snow will need some time to settle out. Localized slab development and analysis will be critically important for safe travel in the back-country. Enjoy!

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Up to 45cm of fresh snow, warm temperatures and moderate to strong SW winds are creating widespread touchy windslabs and storm slabs.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1.5–3.5
    The new snow has added to the load on the Dec 11th weak interface. Buried more than a meter deep in some locations, this layer is strengthening but has been reactive in shallow snowpack areas recently.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Storm slab will become more dangerous and reactive as the whole snowpack settles into a stiffer slab.

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: High -5 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom. A detailed mountain weather forecast is available from Avalanche Canada.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 45cm of snow has fallen along the 93N. Moderate-strong SW winds have built fresh wind slabs in open terrain and storm slabs in sheltered areas. The Dec. 11th layer (surface hoar and facets) persists down 60-150cm, and continues to produce avalanches in shallow snowpack areas.

Avalanche Summary

Helicopter control produced numerous smaller avalanches, and up to size 4 at Sunset Pass; burying the Icefields Parkway with significant debris and mature trees.

Confidence

Regions covered